Going to a party

We've been invited to a Halloween party.
At first I had no clue what to dress up as.
I was just ready to cut up old pillow cases to make a blue skirt and use my son's red bedroom curtains for a cloak so I could be Red Riding Hood. My hubby was going to dress as a wolf.
But.....I found a much easier, no sewing involved, quick and very fun costume idea!!!!

Flo, the Progressive Insurance gal from T.V.!!

I love her!
My hair is brown...I can do a bump, wear some bright red lipstick and find a blue hair band at the Dollar Store. Also, I have a pair of white pants, a white t-shirt and can make a name tag that says Flo and a round pin that says "I love insurance". Oh, and the white apron...I know they sell those plain white aprons at Michaels craft store for about $6.00. I will use a blue marker and carefully write as in the correct font "Progressive" across the front.

Yes!
Easy Peasy!

And....it's going to be a very, very comfortable costume...not something that is itching me like crazy or a mask that I can't keep on for very long. Fun!

My hubby has decided that he is going to be Mayhem from the Allstate Insurance commercials.

We are going to the thrift store tonight to buy a cheap suit that we can rough up on the concrete, cut a few holes in and such.
We can put a few band aids on his face and that should do it!

Yes!
Easy Peasy!

Usually, when the hubs and I get invited to a costume party...we are like...ugh...I don't want to dress up!! Whining and whining...we just whine! LOL! But...I think this will actually be fun and easy and everyone knows and loves these characters, so I don't think we run the risk of "Hi, what are you supposed to be?"

hahahaha!

I'll take some pics of us in our costumes and share with you guys soon!

Pumpkin Dump Cake

Oh man! You have got to try this recipe!
Not only is it delicious, it is very easy and fun to make!
I don't mind a recipe with many steps...but sometimes I just feel like making something simple, and this totally fits the bill!

Here's the recipe:

Pumpkin Dump Cake

1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree
10 oz. evaporated milk
1 C. light brown sugar
3 eggs
3 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 box yellow cake mix
1 C. chopped walnuts
1/2 C. Heath Toffee Bits
1 C. melted butter

In a large bowl, dump in the pumpkin puree, evap. milk, brown sugar, eggs and pumpkin pie spice. Mix well. Dump mixture into a greased, 9 x 13 baking pan.

Next, evenly sprinkle yellow cake mix over top of the pumpkin mixture.

Sprinkle nuts and toffee bits all over the top.

Finally, pour the melted butter over top of everything.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes in 350 degree oven.

Enjoy!!



P.S. The bottom of this cake will turn out to the consistency of pumpkin pie.
Beware! You will want to eat and eat and eat...it is irresistible!!!

Fall

It is Fall!

Glorious Fall!

I haven't been posting very much lately and I want to get back to it!

Just wanted to pop in and say hi!

Here's a pic of my hubby gathering firewood he had just chopped...I love how it turned out!

I will be back later today or tomorrow to share a recipe with you.

Pumpkin dump cake!

Oh it is so good!

You'll see!

I see myself in my son

Do you ever see yourself in your children?

I saw myself in my son today.

His appreciation and awareness for everything that is around him...that is JUST like me!

This day,
right here in this photo,
he had decided to do his homework on the swing.

Why??

He had come in from swinging and told me it was so peaceful there. He said he could hear the birds chirping, the crickets, and a squirrel that ran behind him. He also described how the sun was coming through the trees and how nice it was.

I'm thinking, wow, he is 9 years old and he "gets it".

It's just funny because that is exactly how I think.

When I'm in a place and I am overwhelmed with the simplistic, organic beauty of it all...I want to just hang out there. I want to get my journal and write there...I want to read a book there...I want to lay there and take a nap...basically, I want to be in it, of it, with it, a part of it. It fills me with inner peace and a happiness...not a, jumping up and down, kind of happiness...but a smooth, calm, fulfilled, warm, love life, kind of happiness.

When I looked out the back door and saw him on the swing doing his homework, I knew I wanted to capture this moment. It was so precious and beautiful.

See?
I really am, into the "moments" of life.
It seriously gives me a kick.

I am absolutely the person that stops to smell the roses. For that matter, I will actually closely examine the rich, deep blood red color, the velvety smooth texture of the petals, the faint sweet smell.

As far back as I can remember...as a child...I used to sit and look...I mean, just look...at a flower...deep inside...the stamen, the pollen...and just marvel at how each flower would grow to be just like it's other...almost identical. I studied the clover, the blades of grass, the bark of a tree, the big blobs of sticky sap, how the sunlight glowed through it, turning it a golden amber when you looked at it at just the right angle.

Maybe everyone does this...I'm not sure.

I haven't noticed this so much with my first born son...but my second born son...I catch him studying things up close...just like I remember doing...like I do still.

I smile to myself when I see this.
It makes me happy.
It is SO cool to see traits of yourself in your own children!